Chapter 165: Come to Offer Allegiance

Li Lin stared at the man in surprise; he had never expected An Xin to be afraid of paper figures.

And it was still daytime.

These little paper figures were pink, with big eyes, incredibly cute.

Li Lin had designed them this way precisely so people wouldn’t fear them.

It was understandable for ordinary people to be afraid, but An Xin was the senior disciple of Tianyi Sect, powerful and formidable—yet he was afraid too!

“If you’re afraid of paper figures, why did you want to trade with me?” Li Lin asked, puzzled.

An Xin glanced at the little paper figures scurrying on the ground, swallowed hard, his eyes darting away, and said, “I didn’t want to learn it—just that the Elders thought that if our sect ever recruits a Spirit Hunter, we must teach him at least some powerful techniques. Now that we have the Thunderfall Spell, we must also have the Paper-Stabbing Art—it’s too famous to leave out.”

Li Lin nodded, then walked over to the man lying on the ground.

“Who are you?” Li Lin asked. “Why are you loitering outside my door?”

The man spat out blood.

An Xin had injured him but held back, not killing him outright.

He looked up at Li Lin, looking pitiful: “I only came to find someone. I never intended to do anything.”

“Then why were you sneaking around and trying to run away?”

The man glanced at the surrounding paper figures, his expression growing even more pitiful: “When these things came running out, I had to run.”

An Xin thought that made sense—he was also afraid of these moving paper scraps.

But Li Lin didn’t see it that way.

No matter what, sneaking around in front of your own room was suspicious.

“Take this man to the government office,” Li Lin smiled. “I’ll interrogate him myself—he’ll tell the truth then. Brother An, wait a moment.”

An Xin nodded.

Li Lin waved his hand, and all the paper figures scurried back, returning to rest on his palm, stacked one atop another, motionless.

Then Li Lin put the paper figures away.

Just as Li Lin was about to grab the man and head to the government office, several people surrounded them.

One of them waved a paper fan, dressed as a scholar, looking vaguely familiar.

Li Lin then remembered—he was the eldest son of the Wang family.

An Xin looked at the man and frowned slightly.

Now that Li Lin had recalled the paper figures, An Xin’s demeanor returned to normal.

“Wang Yunzhi, eldest son of the Wang family,” An Xin whispered beside Li Lin.

Li Lin gave a slight nod.

Wang Yunzhi stepped forward, clasped his fists, and said, “Gentlemen, you injured my retainer—why?”

“He was trying to steal,” Li Lin smiled.

“I wasn’t!” the man on the ground gasped weakly. “Master, I wasn’t!”

“Brother, you’re making false accusations,” Wang Yunzhi smiled with narrowed eyes, like a fox.

Li Lin smiled back: “You say we injured your retainer—aren’t you the one making false accusations? Falsely accusing an official carries a heavier penalty, Master Wang.”

An Xin shot Li Lin a look of utter disbelief.

He had always thought Li Lin was a very reasonable, sensible man.

But now it seemed Li Lin was brazenly lying—or perhaps excelled at slapping on labels.

Wang Yunzhi gestured around: “Everyone saw it!”

Li Lin looked around and smiled sweetly: “Who saw it?”

The onlookers—including the shopboy and the owner—all averted their eyes.

Li Lin wore black official robes—who would dare act up?

An Xin hissed.

He finally understood the difference between martial artists and government officials.

Li Lin smiled: “Master Wang, you see—no one saw it. But someone did see your retainer sneaking around near my lodging.”

Wang Yunzhi glanced left and right, furious: “Who saw it?”

He expected no one to answer—but An Xin smiled and said, “I saw it.”

“You!” Wang Yunzhi pointed at An Xin, furious. “My Wang family has no feud with Tianyi Sect. Why must you kick a man when he’s down, An Young Master?”

“There was none before. Now there is,” An Xin smiled.

Li Lin looked at Wang Yunzhi and said, “I suspect this man was sent by you to ambush me. So please come with me as well.”

“Don’t push too far!” Wang Yunzhi snapped. “This is Jincheng, not Yulin County!”

“But wherever I am, I’m still an official,” Li Lin said, picking up the spear beside him and stepping forward slowly.

If the man resisted, he would strike.

At that moment, more people entered through the door.

Leading them was Wang Tianyou, the Wang family’s eldest.

“Li County Wei , please wait,” Wang Tianyou stepped before Li Lin, clasping his fists earnestly. “Do me a favor.”

Li Lin looked at Wang Tianyou and saw pleading in his eyes.

The Wang family was a prominent clan in Jincheng—they cared about their reputation.

If Wang Yunzhi were truly arrested and locked up in the government office, the Wang family’s standing would plummet.

Li Lin pointed at the man lying beside him: “What about him?”

“He is indeed my retainer. I don’t yet know why he acted this way,” Wang Tianyou sighed. “But I will give you a full explanation soon—and I owe you a great favor. Please.”

Li Lin nodded: “I need to know the outcome.”

“You will.”

Wang Yunzhi’s face was grim—he couldn’t resolve the issue, yet his younger brother had handled it effortlessly.

It left him feeling defeated.

Li Lin ignored Wang Yunzhi and turned to An Xin: “Let’s go outside and talk.”

“Alright.”

The two stepped outside and exchanged their manuals. An Xin clasped his fists and said, “Li County Wei , do you ever plan to be promoted to Jincheng?”

He was deeply impressed by how Li Lin had handled Wang Yunzhi just now.

No wonder officials could turn nonsense into righteous logic—it was something martial artists could never do.

Li Lin shook his head: “Hard to say.”

In truth, Li Lin thought it was possible.

After all… Huang Yan was already an official in Jincheng—some maneuvering might make it happen.

But Li Lin didn’t want to come.

Yulin County was guarded by the Tree Immortal Lady—she was one of his own, a powerful ally always behind him.

Many things could be done there.

In Jincheng, many things would become bound and restricted.

Unless the Temple Protector of Junchun could also be assigned to the Tree Immortal Lady—then it might work.

“That’s a pity.”

If Li Lin came, Tianyi Sect would gain another powerful patron.

They exchanged a few casual words, then parted.

Li Lin arrived at the township militia camp at Chengnan Gate and saw a man lingering outside. When he spotted Li Lin, he rushed forward, knelt on one knee, and clasped his fists: “Li County Wei , I, Xiao, wish to serve you unto death—please accept me.”

The man was Xiao Chunzhu, third senior disciple of Lingxiao Sect.

Li Lin stared at him in surprise: “You didn’t leave? Where are your junior disciples?”

“They went back,” Xiao Chunzhu sighed. “But if I return, I’ll likely be killed. The sect elders won’t let me live.”

“Because your seventh junior died?”

“Yes!” Xiao Chunzhu sighed. “He was exceptionally gifted—the sect’s top prospect. The fact they sent us to escort him back proves it.”

Li Lin nodded, understanding: “But why should I take you in? I’m just a lowly County Wei .”

“You’re young, yet already a County Wei ,” Xiao Chunzhu looked at Li Lin with full confidence. “Given time, you’ll rise to high office.”

(End of Chapter)